BAPTISM
Why Baptism?
As believers in Christ, we practice baptism for three main reasons:
1. To follow the example of Jesus. (Mark 1:9)
2. To obey Jesus’ commandment. (Matt. 28:19)
3. To publicly declare that a person is a believer. (Acts 2:38)
What is Baptism?
“Baptism” comes from the Greek word baptízō, which means “to submerge, dip under, immerse.” Put simply, baptism is immersing an individual in water and raising them up again from it.
Biblically-speaking, baptism signifies the following:
1. Baptism portrays the death and resurrection of Christ. (Rom. 6:3-4)
2. Baptism demonstrates a person’s union with Christ in his death and resurrection. (1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 2:12)
3. Baptism proclaims cleansing from sin. (Acts 22:16, 1 Pet. 3:21, Heb. 10:22)
4. Baptism symbolizes deliverance from judgment. (1 Pet. 3:20-21)
Who Can Be Baptized?
In light of what baptism signifies, it can be concluded that baptism is to be administered to those who give a believable profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The New Testament gives further support for “believer’s baptism”:
1. The New Testament only describes the baptism of believers.
Of the numerous baptism accounts in Scripture, it is only ever those who have repented of their sins and turned to Christ that we see being baptized. Belief is consistently seen as the prerequisite for baptism. (See Acts 2:38; 2:41; 8:12; 8:35-36; 9:18; 10:48; 16:14-15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16)
2. Paul and baptism
In Galatians 3:27, Paul clearly assumes that those who have been baptized have “put on Christ” (have been saved). His question in Romans 6:3 carries the same assumption: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”
If you would like to be baptized please contact one of our elders, call the church at 334-347-8264, or send us an email at theparkchurchenterprise@gmail.com